ALBUM REVIEW: Absolvere – Signs Of The Swarm
2021 just keeps getting better and better for deathcore. Beloved by many and shunned by some, the genre has certainly seen its ups and downs over its life, but recently it has become a whole new entity. Pennsylvanian five-piece SIGNS OF THE SWARM have been born anew after a turbulent time, and their second full length with vocalist Dave Simonich proves to be the rebirth they so sorely needed.
2019’s Vital Depravation was a beast of an album that allowed the band to shine outside of the shadow of a certain previous vocalist. There were many who thought the sacking of said vocalist would see the band suffer but if anything they’ve never shone brighter. Fans were treated with a couple of teasers in tracks Pernicious and The Collection, however neither of these feature on new full-length Absolvere. They served the purpose of being fuel for the fire that would become the album, but Absolvere throws in a welcome curveball or two which fans possibly weren’t expecting.
Hyms Ov Invocation opens the album ominously before escalating into an all-out war on your senses. The blast beats from Bobby Crow hit you with such ferocity just as the vicious snarl of Simonich unleashes without remorse. When the sludge-filled breakdown finally hits you know you’re in for a trip through this record. Boundless Manifestations brings some black metal influences that are seen scattered across a lot of modern deathcore albums and it’s the first real showcasing of the brilliant guitar work from Jeff Russo and Corey Smarsh. It’s an early album highlight that proves these boys aren’t just out to slam and there’s a lot more to their arsenal.
Speaking of more to their arsenal, clean vocals make their first appearance in Dreaming Desecration. Before anyone becomes worried, they are incredibly tasteful and work perfectly within the track. These aren’t forced at any point and Smarsh‘s voice adds a new dimension to the band. Even with the cleans, they still manage to pack in a killing breakdown blow to close it out.
The brutality of Nameless features some of the album’s heaviest moments as Simonich switches from bath emptying gargles to descending to hell growls. While his vocals are some of the filthiest in the game, unfortunately a lot of the lyrics are unintelligible which is a shame. Granted, this may or may not bother listeners as they’ll be too busy being mid stank face to even notice. The production is mainly top-notch throughout, but there is the odd occasion where the guitars suffer from not quite breaking through the assault from the drums.
After the eerily wicked instrumental title track, we’re hit with Revelations Ov A Silent King which is one of the most straightforward, in your face, take no prisoners tracks of the album that harkens back to their early work. It’s short, but not at all sweet, with shades of THE ACACIA STRAIN spewing forth towards its final moments.
On Absolvere, we’re gifted with not just one but two guest vocal spots. DESPISED ICON’s Alex Erian lends his hardcore attack to Hollow Prison, while SHADOW OF INTENT‘s Ben Duerr makes his presence known on Blood Seal. Erian‘s appearance is a nice touch that almost feels like a passing of the torch moment. His more core approach to vocals mixes well with the more savage snarl of Simonich.
The band saves one of the best tracks for last in Death Whistle. This feels like a band coming full circle and not only hits you with its heaviness but also its more expansive side showcasing just how strong their songwriting has become. It once again features moments of clean vocals that are used sparingly but surprisingly well.
With so many stand out releases from this genre this year, SIGNS OF THE SWARM needed to bring their A-game with Absolvere. Thankfully it delivers on all levels and is a devastatingly heavy record that doesn’t request your attention, it straight-up demands it.
Rating: 8/10
Absolvere is set for release on September 24th via Unique Leader Records.
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